ABSTRACT
The almost complete freedom of worship conceded to the Huguenots by the Peace of Monsieur scandalized militant Catholics. Defensive associ ations which earlier Protestant successes had prompted in 1562 and 1568 suddenly reappeared. In Paris a perfume maker, called La Bruyere, and his son, who was a councillor of the Chatelet, led resistance to the edict. Secret meetings were held each day and a list of supporters circulated. However, the movement was allegedly nipped in the bud by De Thou, first president of the Parlement.1 Outside Paris, Picardy took the lead in opposing the settlement. This is not surprising given the province’s crucial strategic importance. On learning that Conde was to become governor of the prov ince, Jacques d’Humieres, the governor of Peronne, begged the king on 5 May not to allow it to fall into Protestant hands. One hundred and fifty noblemen, led by Jacques d’Applaincourt and Michel d’Estourmel, rallied to his support. Secret talks involving representatives of the three orders in the town led to the setting up of an organization with an elected council. According to the Venetian ambassador, Spanish agents encouraged these moves because they did not want to see a Protestant garrison so close to the Netherlands.2 On 8 June Henry III wrote to d’Humieres deploring the disobedience of the inhabitants of Peronne and the support they were getting from the Picard nobility. He ordered the governor to expel d’Applaincourt
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and d’Estourmel from the town. Henry also ordered other nobles to desist from opposing the edict of pacification. In the weeks that followed, d’Humieres was joined by the governors of Ham and Doullens. Finally, on 9 July, Henry III decided not to hand over Peronne to Conde, who was compensated with Saint Jean d’Angely.3
